The Provincial Auditor released volume one of its 2018 report today, and it shows the damaging effect that the Sask. Party’s cuts and clawbacks have had on Saskatchewan students with special needs as well as those dealing with mental health issues.
“We’re always grateful for the good work that the Auditor and her team does, but it’s disappointing to see in this report just how badly the Sask. Party is failing the most vulnerable people in our province,” said NDP Deputy Leader Carla Beck. “And this comes in light of the most recent budget from the Sask. Party, which saw a funding cut to the rental housing supplement and the failure to fully restore funding to school divisions.”
The report noted that in the Saskatoon Public School Division 7.3 per cent of K-8 students have intensive needs, but students aren’t receiving the supports they need. The Auditor found an example of a student who required an educational assistant but didn’t receive one because the school did not have enough educational assistant resources to support all the needs of the students in the school.
“The bottom line is when the Sask. Party doesn’t fully restore the $54 million cut it made in education, it meant that school divisions have to do more with less. It means fewer educational assistants and it means fewer resources to help students who have special needs get the attention they need,” said Beck, the NDP’s Education Critic.
People suffering from mental illness accessing timely health and addiction services in Prince Albert was also a topic panned by the Auditor. It showed that the demand for services outpaced the region’s capacity to deliver them, and people couldn’t access care in a timely way.
“The demand for these services is increasing, but spending by the Sask. Party and staffing remains flat,” Beck said. “It’s unacceptable that after a decade of record revenue, the Sask. Party has failed to address the issues around staffing and capacity in Prince Albert.”
The Auditor noted that around half the number of secure custody inmates are on remand waiting for trial, which puts a strain on the justice system and costs taxpayers more. Also, prisoners aren’t getting proper access to health care while incarcerated.
“It can be very costly to the public when prisoners don’t have access to proper medical or mental health treatment, so it’s important that the Sask. Party tighten up its policies to ensure public safety and prevent recidivism.”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.